Pressing machine with storage tanks



Nov 22, 1932. DAVls 1,888,310

PRESSING MACHINE WITH STORAGE TANKS Filed July '7. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l 15 IMENTOR.

A TTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1932.

E. DAVIS PRESSING MACHINE WITH STORAGE TANKS I EYTOR 6 2M WW Patented Nov. 22, 1932 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST DAVIS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY INC 0]? SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PRESSIN G MACHINE WITH STORAGE TANKS Application filed July 7, 1930. Serial No. 465,867.

This invention relates to pressing machines such as garment or laundry presses. In the operation of pressing machines of the manual type in which the operator closes the press by foot power, it is possible for him to bring the pressing head down toward the buck at.

I from under the pressing head before applying power to close the press. While a skilled Operator could save much time by starting the operating means to close the press be fore removing his hands from the work, the risk of crushing his hands between the pressing elements has been so great in the case of power presses, that the use of two hand con trol has become universal.

The principal object of this invention 1s to provide a power pressing machine in Will ch the initial closing of the press under zero pressure may be accomplished by the use of a pedal which will be actuated by the operator in exactly the same manner as is the case with a foot operated press. A further object of the invention is to provide such a power press with two hand control for the actuating mechanism for applying final heavy pressure to the pressing elements.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a pressing machine having means for storing suflicient energy to close the press under initial or zero pressure. A further object of the invention is to provide energy storing means of adjustable capacity so that the amount of energy stored therein will be just sufficient to bring the'pressing elements together under zero pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for recharging the energy storing device after the energy therein has been released to operate the press actuating means.

A further object of the invention is to improve the press operating mechanism shown in my copending application Ser. No. 395,720, filed September 27, 1929.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and will be pointed out as the description proceeds.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a pressing machine showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a view showing the relation of the various parts of the operating and control mechanism of the pressing machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the valve mechanism used for recharging the energy storing means in its non-operative position.

My invention is designed primarily for use with pressing machines having an opening and closing movement, such a machine as shown in Figure 1, and includes a movable pressing element or pressing head 1 mounted on a yoke 2. A fixed pressing element or buck 3 is carried by a suitable supporting member 4 mounted on a frame 5. The yoke 2 is pivoted at 6 to an upstanding back leg 7 of the pressing machine frame. The yoke 2 is actuated by suitable means such as a link 8 pivoted to the yoke at 9 and to a bell crank 10 at 11. The bell crank 10 is pivoted to the pressing machine frame at 12 and to the piston rod 13 at the point 14. The piston rod 13 is actuated by the fluid motor 15. The motor 15 is operated to close the press and a spring 16 attached to the bell crank 10 at one end and to the pressing machine frame 5 at the other end supplies energy for opening the press. The machine described thus far isof the conventional type, well known to those skilled in the art and forms no part of the present invention.

Zeropressure closing means mally closed intake valve 23. These valves 22, 23 are connected .by a stem 24 so that they operate as a unit. A spring 25 holds the valves in their normal position with the intake valve 23 closed and the exhaust valve 22 open. The pipe 20 connects with the valve casing 21 at a point midway between the valves 22, 23.

The valves 22, 23 are operated by a rocker arm 26 which contacts with a stem 27 of the exhaust valve 22. The valves in the valve casing 21 are of the self-locking type, since when they are operated air passes througha conduit 30 in the valve casing and into the diaphragm chamber 31. Pressure is thus applied behind the diaphragm therein to operate a plunger which holds the rocker arm 26 in operated position to lock the valves in operated position.

The rocker arm 26 is operated from a pedal 32 mounted on a lever 33 which is pivoted to the pressing machine frame at 34. A connecting link 35 is pivoted to the lever 33 at 36 and connected to the rocker arm 26 at 37 to transmit movement of the pedal 32 to the rocker arm 26. The connection at 37 is of the sliding type but lost motion is normally prevented by a spring 40 which bears agalnst the rocker arm 26 at its upper end and at its lower end against a collar 41 which is rigidly secured to the connecting link 35. The spring 40 permits sliding of the connection at 37 when the pedal 32 is operated through a greater distance than is necessary to operate the valves in the valve casing 21. This is a safety precaution to prevent excessive pressure from being applied to the valves in the valve casing 21.

Air is supplied to the valve casing 21 through a pipe 45 which connects with a storage tank 46. The storage tank 46 is provided with a partition 47 which fits the tank 46 like a piston, the position of which is adjustable by means of a threaded rod 48 which may be locked in adjusted position by suitable locking means such as a lock nut 49. The position of the partition 47 is adjusted until the capacity of the storage tank 46 is iust suflicient to supply enough energy, when the intake valve 23 is opened, to operate the fluid motor 15 to close the press under zero pressure.

The valves in the valve casing 21 are unlocked by relieving the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 31. This pressure release is obtained through a pipe 51 which connects with a valve casing 52 containing a normal-- 1y closed exhaust valve 53. When relieving pressure through the pipe 51 the exhaust valve 53 is operated by a handle 54.

Storage tank recharging means After each opertion of the fluid motor 15 from energy stored in the tank 46 it is necessary that the tank 46 be recharged. This is accomplished by means of a valve 57, here shown as of the rotary type, which connects the pipe 45 through the pipe 58, valve 57, and pipe 59 with the fluid supply line 60.

The valve 57 is normally in the position shown in Figure 2, so as to supply air from the fluid supply line 60 through the pipe 59, valve 57, pipe 58 and pipe 45 to the storage tank 46.

The valve 57 is operated through a crank 61 which is connected by means of a link 62 with some part of the press actuating mechanism. The link 62 is here shown as pivotally connected to the yoke 2.

When the control mechanism is operated to close the press, the initial movement of the yoke 2 will pull the link 62 upwardly to move the crank 61 and close the valve 57 thus cutting off the storage tank 46 from the fluid supply line 60.

When heavy pressure is supplied to the fluid motor 15 the working fluid may pass from the fluid motor 15, through the pipe 20, and back through the open intake valve 23, through the pipe 45 to the tank 46. If the machine were closed under heavy pressure during every operation, the tank 46 could be recharged directly from the fluid motor 15 as just described. In many cases however, the operator will close the press under light pressure only and then open the press without going under heavy pressure. To take care of such a situation, the valve 57 is necessary to recharge the tank 46.

F irzal high pressure two hand control In order to bring the pressing elements together under final high pressure, it is necessary that the operator depress push buttons and 71. The push button 70 operates a bell crank 72 which contacts with a stem 73 of a normally open exhaust valve 74 which is contained in a valve casing 75. The valve casin 75 also contains a check valve 76. The push utton 71 operates a bell crank 77 which contacts with a stem 78 of a normally open. exhaust valve 79 which is contained in a valve casing 80. The valve casing 80 also contains a normally closed intake valve 81 which is connected by a stem 82 to the exhaust valve 79 so that the two valves operate as a unit. A spring 83 holds the valves 79 and 81 in normal position with the intake valve 81 closed and the exhaust valve 79 open.

A pipe connects the valve casing 80, at a point midway between the valves 79 and 81, with the valve casing 75 at a point midway between the valves 74 and 7 6.

ipe 91 connects the valve casing 75, at a point beyond the check valve 76, with the cylinder of the fluid motor 15.

The fluid supply line 60 connects with the valve casing 80 in front of the intake valve 81 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Depression of the push button 71 only will permit fluid from the fluid supply line 60 to pass through the valve casing 80 and into the valve casing 75. Since the exhaust valve 74 will be open, the fluid is free to escape through this open exhaust valve and sufficient pressure will not build up in the valve casing 7 5 to pass through the check valve 7 6 and operate the fluid motor 15.

If the push button 7 0 only is operated, no working fluid will be supplied to the motor 15 since the communication between the valve casing 75 and fluid supply line 60 is closed by the intake valve 81.

It is necessary therefore, inorder to supply working fluid under pressure from the fluid supply line 60 to the motor 15, that the operator depress the push buttons and '71 at the same time.

The valves in the valve casing and do not lock in operated position and it is necessary for the operator to hold the push buttons 70 and 71 depressed as long as he desires to supply fluid to the motor 15. He may, however, remove his hands from the push buttons 70 and 71 without causing the press to open since the check valve 76 will prevent back flow of the fluid from the motor 15.

WVhen the handle 54 is operated to open the press, fluid exhausts from the motor 15 through the pipe 20, and valve casmg 21, through the open exhaust valve 22.

The exhaust pipe 51 is of larger diameter than the conduit 30 so that air will escape through the pipe 51 faster than it can enter the diaphragm chamber 31 through the conduit 30.

Operation of the machine I The machine is operated to close the press under initial or zero pressure by depressing the pedal 32 to operate the valves in the valve casing 21 and permit the compressed air stored in the storage tank 46 to pass through the pipe 45, open intake valve 23, valve casing21, and pipe 20 to the fluid motor 15. The capacity of the storage tank 46 will have been previously adjusted by means of the-partltion 47 and the threaded rod 48 so that the energy of the compressed air stored in the tank 46 is just suflicient to operate the fluid motor 15 to bring the pressing elements together under zero pressure. Even though the operator does not remove his hands from the buck until after the pressing head comes into contact with his hands no injury due to-pressure can result since the energy'supplied to the motor 15 is not 'suflicient to apply enough pressure'to the movable pressing element to cause injury. a V

When the operator Wishes to apply final heavy pressure, he depresses the push buttons 70 and 71 to operate the valves in the valve casings 75 and 80 respectively to permit air to flow from the fluid supply line 60, through the open intake valve 81, valve casing 80,

pipe 90, valve casing 75, check'valve 76, and pi e 91 to the fluid motor 15.

en the operator wishes to open the press, he manipulates the handle 54 to open the exhaust valve 53 in the valve casing 52 and permits air to escape through the pipe 51 from the diaphragm chamber 31. The spring 25 will then cause the valves 22 and 23 to assume their normal position with the intake valve 23 closed and the exhaust valve 22 open. Fluid from the motor 15 will pass th'rough'the pipe 20, valve casing 21 and open exhaust valve 22.

When the press opens the link 62 will push the crank 61 into itslowered position, as shown in Figure 2, thus opening the valve 57 and establishing communication from the supply line 60, through the pipe 59, valve 57 pipe 58, and pipe 45 to the tank 46. Pressure in the tank 46 is thus restored to full supply line pressure and will remain so until the pedal 32 is again actuated to close the press, as previously described. Initial closing movement of the press will close the valve 57 and disconnect the tank 46 from the fluid supply line.

While I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment of my invention, various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine in combination, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other to open and close the press; operating means for the movable pressing element .including motor tor means; motive fluid storing means connected to the motor means and having a capacity to operate the motor a predetermined distance; adjustable means for varying the amount of motive fluid stored in said motive fluid storing means; control means for controlling the flow of motive fluid from the motive fluid storing means to the motor means; a motive fluid supply line connected to the motive fluid storing means; and control means operated by the operating means for the movable pressing element to supply motive fluid from the fluid supply line to the motive fluid storing means when the press is in wide open position.

3. In a pressing machine in combination, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other to open and close the press; operating means for the movable pressing element including motor means, a motive fluid storage tank connected to the motor means and having a capacity to operate the motor a predetermined distance; a partition within the storage tank and adjustable therein to vary the amount of motive fluid stored therein, and control means for controlling the flow of motive fluid from the storage tank to the motor means.

4. In a pressing machine in combination, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other to open and close the press; operating means for the movable pressing element including motor means, a motive fluid. storage tank connected to the motor means and having a capacity to operate the motor a predetermined distance; a partition within the storage tank and adjustable therein to vary the amount of motive fluid stored therein, control means for controlling the flow of motive fluid from the storage tank to the motor means, a motive fluid supply line connected to the storage tank, and control means operated by the operating means for the movable pressing element to supply motive fluid from the fluid supply line to the storage tank when the press is in wide open position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 23rd day of June, 1930.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

